Big M drops Pick 4 minimums to 50 cents

Beginning with the Friday, May 2, racing program at the Meadowlands, the minimum bet required for the Early and Late Pick 4 wagers will be 50 cents. The decision was made due to the majority of customers expressing their desire for having the minimum bet for the two wagers reduced.

"For the past 18 months, this is something that we have been thinking about,” said director of racing oerations Darin Zoccali. "I have posed the question several times to our customers and have utilized social media looking for input as well. Over the past 18 months, I have seen a change in the majority opinion on the matter. Previously, the majority of our players liked the $1 minimum. About one year ago, it became more of a 50/50 split. Now, the majority of our players appear to prefer a 50-cent minimum wager. I have asked many of our customers, but the deciding factor was a recent poll we placed on Facebook, asking our customers if they prefer a 50 cent or $1 minimum wager for the two pick 4 wagers. The result was overwhelming with 86 percent of those responding opting for the 50-cent minimum.

"I understand there are some players who prefer the $1 minimum,” added Zoccali, "and I understand their argument for keeping it at $1. The bottom line is the vast majority of bettors have voiced a preference for a reduction of the minimum to 50 cents and it would be bad customer service to not provide something the vast majority of our customers clearly want. In addition, the pick 5 wager is thriving and it carries a 50-cent minimum wager as well. We have kept our pick 4 minimum at $1 longer than just about any other racetrack, but the industry is evolving and we need to adapt to that evolution. Additionally, I think this will lead to an increase in the average pool size for both wagers, which is something all our bettors would want.”

The 50-cent minimum wager will be placed on both the Early Pick Four (Races 3 – 6) and the Late Pick Four (Races 7 – 10) effective Friday, May 2. (Meadowlands)